To maintain a successful racing company, the horse that generates the excitement and the income for the team must be kept happy and healthy. This requires a professional staff including: Grooms to attend to daily needs like feeding, bathing, and grooming; a trainer with a personal enough relationship with the horse to notice any signs of physical or mental discomfort; a qualified veterinarian to treat any sickness or injury; a farrier to properly shoe your horse, a trainer who can write an effective training plan based on the individual needs and preferences of your thoroughbred; and an exercise rider to guide your horse through its daily jogs, gallops, and breezes. When your horse gets ready to race, transportation to and from the farm, to the track prior to race day for schooling, and to the track on race day will generally be necessary. Jockey and pony fees are normal on race day. Fees to nominate for a race or to enter and start in a race may apply depending on the type of race your horse will be participating.
Each of these things cost money, but are necessary to get the most from your horse and your Interest in the Company. These costs vary from racing jurisdiction to racing jurisdiction, from trainer to trainer, and from one training phase to the next. The contracted Honor Roll Racing team has worked with the same group of trainers, vets, shippers, grooms, and exercise riders for some time. The following estimates are based on historical numbers from the team used in the past and in place for the future. Ranges are used because, although typical expenses can be forecasted accurately, horses are flesh and blood and sometimes additional expenses must be incurred. In addition, because we can’t reasonably predict what races will best suit your horse when the horse is purchased, transportation and race fee costs will vary. Estimated and average expenses are listed below. These may be surprising or intimidating at first, but they pale in comparison to what a good horse can earn on the larger racing circuits. Purses for Maiden races and entry level allowance races at major Kentucky tracks average nearly $50,000. For more information on purses and earnings, see the Benefits of Ownership section of the Owner Education Center.
ESTIMATED MONTHLY EXPENSES
Trainer Day Rate (This includes all costs associated with the general care and training of your horse) - $20 - $70 a day = $600 - $2,100 month
Transportation (This is variable depending on where your horse races in relation to the training center and on the phase of training your horse is in) $0 - $300 month or $2,500 year
Veterinarian – (This covers Lasix treatment for workouts and race day, vitamins, worming, tests to detect difficult to diagnose physical ailments, scoping to detect illness, antibiotics, etc.) $0 - $500 per month
Farrier - $120 month
Race Day Expenses (Includes jockey fee, pony fee, and possible race entry fee) $0 - $250
Expense contributions will be derived from high-end estimated expenses to minimize, or altogether negate the need for additional payments from team members to cover routine reimbursed company expenses and unexpected equine health related expenses. Any surpluses are kept in individual member accounts for use in the event of a medical emergency or to cover race nomination and entry fees for top level graded stakes races. If surpluses exist when the Company is terminated, they are returned to individual members.
Summary of Typical Ownership Expenses
When a request to be a part owner is approved, an initial investment that covers the purchase of the horse is required. This payment amount depends on the nature of the partnership. An ongoing expense payment is generally also collected to cover day-to-day expenses for a period of time. We are always willing to work with individuals to try to create a program that works well for them.
On average, a 10% owner is responsible for $100 to as much as $300 dollars in bills per month (this money is collected in advance so owners are aware of the total cost of ownership). Of course, 10% owners are entitled to ten percent of earnings. Our best horses have generated several thousands of dollars in earnings per month for 10% owners.
Please register and login to the members area of the site if you are interested in finding out what specific investment opportunities exist at present.
